Occupy the Mic: The Role of Comedy in the Occupy Wall Street Movement

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When asked why he wanted to do this particular show, comedian Tim Warner said because "it's for Occupy Wall Street. It's something that can possibly start or continue a discussion. That's why. I'll do any one of these [shows] in a heartbeat."

During the show, a lot of the comedians shared their Zuccotti experiences, but aside from the general political tone, there wasn't a consistent message or one central agenda. There were jokes about America, banks, greed, the Tea Party, the media, health care, student loans.

In a way, this made the show like Occupy Wall Street itself. Occupy, especially in the beginning, was criticized for its lack of focus. But, this is a good thing. There are lots of problems in the U.S. that need to be addressed and most of them stem from an identical root. And anyway, it was a comedy show and not a rally.

(Also like Occupy Wall Street, there was an off-kilter man wandering around, generally getting in people's way but being tolerated to the best of everyone's ability.)

The show took place at the Yippie Museum and Café, a place that's been waiting for The Revolution for 30 years. It's an appropriate venue. The NoHo building was a squat house for many years and outlived a number of eviction attempts before the Yippies finally joined with other organizations and bought the space.

At the onset of the Youth International Party, the Yippie's political party, comedy was an important part of activism for founders Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. Satire and pranks were a way to reveal the hypocrisy and stupidity they saw in American politics.

"During my 'political awakening, 'Abbie Hoffman was important to me," said Camp. "He was using humor and comedy in order to get a message out. And I think I learned a lot reading about the things he did."

One of the things that Hoffman did was throw fistfuls of one-dollar bills onto the New York Stock Exchange trading floor, sending some brokers and clerks scrambling for singles and causing others to simply shake their fists.

The Yippies also nominated a Pigasus the Pig for President of the United States of America (much like Occupy Denver has elected a dog as its official spokesperson).

"As a communication strategy, humour belongs to the rich treasury of the instruments of politics and can be used in political protest," writes Marjolein T. Hart, in her book "Humour and Social Protest."

"Even nowadays professional comedians can present harsh and undesirable political truths through laughter: Their position as official joke-makers makes them different from other political critics. After all, 'fools' should not be taken seriously and replying in a serious manner of a joke is generally 'not done.'"

Hart takes jokes much too seriously, but she does note how humor can unify marginalized groups and momentarily upturn the social order, both of which are important goals of the Occupy movement.

So what would an actual comedian say about this? Does comedy have a role in Occupy?

"Being a comedian doesn't necessarily take the place of being an activist," said John Knefel, who performed on the show, and also produces for WBAI Radio and sometimes speaks on air about Occupy.

"The only comedy that really has a role in the revolution, I think, is really the best stuff. The [George] Carlins of the world, the Lewis Blacks, when he's really good, the Bill Hickses. What those guys do is absolutely incredible. What a lot of us here tonight do... it's fun, but it's mostly about us and not really about activism. It's a good way to get people together, but I think that for the level that we are at, spending a lot of time at a comedy show is probably not doing as much of activism as actually organizing [street protests]."

Still, humor has a way of disarming a situation, and the situation on Wall Street is growing increasingly tense and divisive.

"Comedy is a good avenue for [activism] because the great thing about comedy is that you're able to sugarcoat an opinion or idea," Warner noted. "When you have a straight discussion, you say 'here is my opinion,' and that discussion can get a little bit heated. But if you put a little humor behind it, you might get people to listen a little bit more."

"If you make them laugh, you make them agree," said comedian Jon Savoy. "Even if it's something they don't necessarily agree with. If you make them laugh, they can't help but somewhat agree and then they think about it a little more."

Savoy, like many others on the bill, has been protesting as part of Occupy as often has he's able. He was arrested along with 700 others during the Oct. 1 Brooklyn Bridge march, after which he got a 99% tattoo on his right arm. In fact, after performing Monday night, Savoy went to court on Tuesday for his hearing, then marched during the Day of Action on Thursday.

Like Knefel, Savoy tends to keep comedy and activism apart, even if his jokes are politically-bent.

"I'm both of those things [a comic and activist] and sometimes there's an overlap," Savoy said.

Nonetheless, these comedians chose to do a show about Occupy Wall Street. They used their five minutes on stage with a microphone to talk about financial injustice and corporate irresponsibility.

"In any movement, people contribute different things. In my case, that contribution is getting the message out through comedy," said Camp.

Camp has certainly tried to live up to that. The comedian has performed at Occupy Wall Street; Occupy D.C.; Occupy Ashville, N.C.; Occupy Montreal; Ohio University; and in a few days goes to Occupy Madison, Wis., and then Occupy Chicago.

No matter what they feel their role is, the comedians at the show actually do make very good spokespersons for the Occupy movement. Critics have been able to point to specific protestors as a way to discredit Occupy Wall Street, singling out drug addicts, violent offenders and even people who are just plain dirty.

One of the biggest reactions, especially from the Right, has been: if you're so upset about unemployment, why don't you go get a job?

Comedians are some of the hardest working people in New York City. Most of them work all day then stay out all night going from show to show, sometimes until 4 or 5 a.m. It can be a grueling and punishing business, but comedians are willing to put in years of work before seeing any "overnight" success.

A comic on Monday named Gabe Pacheco has three jobs, and was a teacher before he was disenchanted by the school system. Warner works six days a week and performs at least once a night and still visits Occupy Wall Street for "a half hour, hour, maybe four to five days a week," often at 3 a.m. after leaving a gig.

Did you hear that Herman Cain?

Like the rest on the Occupy movement, the comedians on the show Monday night are going to watch what happens and participate as much as they can, whether they're needed for making jokes, raising money or "whatever else that we can do down there to make sure that those people can stay down there all the time, as comfortably as possible," said Warner.

"In 10 or 20 years, your kids are going to say 'Did you do any of that stuff? Were you at Woodstock? Were you a freedom rider?' And you don't want to make direct comparisons to all these things, but what we're seeing is an historical moment," said Knefel. "We're lucky to be in that moment."

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